Inspection Detail

Inspection: 110092673 - Reach Service And Supply Co., Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Jacksonville Area Office

Investigation Summary

On March 17, 1994, Employee #1 called in sick to work. Late on Sunday, March 20, 1994, he was found passed out in the backyard. On March 21, 1994, he was taken to see a doctor. While examining an X-ray, the doctor saw a large consolidated infiltrate at the posterior base of the right lower lobe of the lung. Employee #1 was prescribed Ciprofloxacin and was referred to a pulmonary specialist at the local hospital, who admitted him. Sometime between March 21, 1994, and March 26, 1994, a sputum sample was taken, revealing that he had Legionella pneumophila. On March 27, 1994, Employee #1 died. He had been working as an air conditioning mechanic at several different locations for the two weeks leading up to the onset of his illness. He was the only employee from the construction sites to contract the disease. Consequently, an occupational source of the Legionella pneumophila could not be ascertained and a work related illness could not be established.

Keywords: RESPIRATORY, LUNG, UNCONSCIOUSNESS, CONSTRUCTION, INHALATION, LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE, RESPIRATORY TRACT, INFECTIOUS DISEASE